Signaling device



July 13,1926. 1,592,241

J. B. WELDAY SIGNALING DEVICE] Filed Deg. 17, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 gvwentoo 15. T VZday July 13,192

J. B. WELDAY SIGNALING DEVICE Fil ed Dec. 17

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9J1 (11170111larlllllrllllllllllllll I11(It!!!rnlllliiolllllllrrllllrlrlllall!lllllliv ltirlllulvivll' Patented July 13, 1926.

JOSEPH B. 'WELDAY, OF DEZN'IJISON, QHIO.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed December 17, 1924. Serial No. 756,566.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices and more particularly to 'a signaling device for use by section men on railroads. here it is necessary to make repairs on a railroad, the track foreman in charge of the work sends one of the section men along the track to a point remote from the point where the repairs are being made, with a red flag, to signal and stop any oncoming trains. As a rule, the section men are illiterate foreigners and it very often happens that the engineer or conductor'of a train stopped by one of the men is unable to obtain fromhim any information as to the reason for stopping the train. Therefore, the present invention has as its primary object to provide a signaling device by the employment of which this difficulty may be overcome and information afforded the engineer or conductor as to the nature of the trouble, notwithstanding the inability of the section man to speak the English language or impart the necessary information.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a signaling device for the purpose above "stated embodying a number of signal arms or blades arranged in pairsand the blades of each pair bearing words denoting one or another of the more common causes of delay of a train, all of theblades beino normally housed so as to be concealed from view and the blades being adapted to be selectively displayed by a very simple adjustment of the device, so that the track foreman may prepare the device before it is handed to the section man, to be subsequently adjusted and displayed by him, and in such manner as to preclude any likelihood of the section man making any mistake in the adjustment of the device to display the signal or warnin 7 The device embodying the invention is not intended to serve as a substitute for the 7 red flag ordinarily employed. by section men in signaling the engineer of a train to warn him of obstruction along the track, but as an auxiliary signaling device. the red flag being employed as hasheretofore been customary to first stop the train and the signaling device being subsequently employed to apprise the engineer or conductor as to the reason for the delay, and, therefore, the present invention contemplates so constructing the device thata member thereof Will constitute a housing or holder for the red signal flag when the flag is not in use, thereby protecting the flag from becoming soiled and likewise tending to prevent its loss.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that an outward and downward swinging of one of the blades of any of the pairs of signal blades will, by a most simple arrangement of elements, result in a corresponding and simultaneous movement of the other blade of the pair, the blades being, as previously stated, normally housed and concealed so that the device is of a compactnature when not in use and may be readily and quickly adjusted for use,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the signaling device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the evice, illustrating the signal blades in full lines in normal position and in dotted lines in position to display the signal borne by them.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,

looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the signaling device.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a portion of one of the signal blades.

The device embodying the invention consists of a frame structure indicated in genincludes a top member 7 and a bottom mem her 8, and the top member is in the nature of a plate secured by bolts or other suitable fastening elements 9 to the upper end portions 6 of the side members of the frame structure and having its opposite edges turned downwardly as at 10, to engage the outer faces of the plates 3 of the side members. The bottom member 8 is likewise in the nature of a metallic plate secured by bolts or other suitable fastening elements 11 to the connecting bottom portions 5 of the side members of the frame structure, and the opposite edge portions of this plate are turned upwardly at right angles as at 12, to engage the outer faces of the said plates 3 of the side members. In this manner. two spaced open-sided housing frames are provided. and extending between the plates of the side members of the frame structure and upwardly through an opening 12 formed in the bottom plate 8, is a tubular stock Lhthe projecting lower end of which constitutes a handle indicated by the numeral l i, whereby the device may be conveniently held and displayed. A pin 15 is secured diametrically through the upper end of the tubular stock i and through an eye'16 formed at the lower end of the shank 17 of a hook 18,.the said shank of the hook havinga head or nut 19 thereon engaging the upper side of the top plate 7 and the hook constituting means whereby the device may be suspended from the tool rack of a hand car. The upper end of the tubular stock 13 abuts squarely against the under side of the top plate 7 and it will, therefore. be evident that the stock is rigid with respect to the frame structure. The stock serves likewise as a housing for the usual signal flag indicated by the numeral 20,the lower end of the stock being adapted. to be closed by a removable cap member 21 so as to retain the flag within the stock when not in use, it being understood that by merely removingthe cap member 21, the flag may be instantly withdrawn and. employed by the section man in signaling The signal displaying devices of the invention are in the natureof a'plurality of pairs o'fsignal blades theblades of each pair being'indicated in general by the numeral 22L'Each signal displaying blade :22 comprises a plate 23 .of oblong rectangular form provided at its .lower end with an ex tension indicated by .the numeral 2%. The extenslon 2% of each blade is formed upon one face with a boss .25 havingits outer ver-i ticaledge formed with a groove 23 and'its lower edge formed with a groove 27.' 'It.

will'be observed that the extension 24 and its bossi25 is located at one lower corner of thEBIEQSPQ'CtiVB blade, and that side or" the extension and'boss which is presented toward the opposite cornerof the blade is of arcuate form andprovided with a number of gearteeth indicated by the numeral 28, the

extension and boss being formed, concentric to said teeth28, with an opening 29. Each boss is of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the blade of which it forms a part. and in assembling the blades 01 each pair, the blades are arranged in overlapped corresponding swinging movement t the relation, as best shown in Figures 1. 3 and l: of the drawings. with the lower end edge each blade normally resting in engagement with the upper edge of the boss of the respective blade and with the teeth 28 of the two blades meshing. Pivot pins 10 are iitted through the openin 2:) ol the scvcrzl iladcs and are secured at their ends in openings in the plate -3. and it about these pins that the signal blades are adapter to swing. it being understood that swinging ot either blade of any pair will result in 31' blade of the pair. due to the in meshing of the teeth 25 oi the two bla.

In order that the blades may bemain tained in folded position and likewise in extended position means is provided which will now be described. The means comprises a restraining member associated with each pair of signal blades and indicated in general by the numeral 31 and this member comprises a strip 32 of metal provided with a longitudinally extending upstanding flange parallel to and midway between the longitudinal edges of the strip. The strip is provided intermediate its ends with relative short overturned flanges 3i which engage the opposite edges of a hat spring which is bowed to elliptical form and its ends overlapped as at 36, and secured by the bolts 11 to the connecting portion 5 of the respective frame member In this manner, the restraining members 31 are supported yieldably in position with the ilange each member seating in the groove :ZT

.in the'respective'blades when the signal 'other, it will be evident that when-the in the grooves 26. In the first instance,

the upper edge of the flange 33 willengage squarely agalnst the 'stra1ght inner walls of the grooves 27 and the blades will be restrained against outward and downward swinging movement. However, such movenent may be accomplished manually by means to be presently explained, and one blade of a pair is swung outwardly and downwardly, the other blade will be correspondingly moved until the inner walls of the grooves :26 of these blades are squarely engaged by the upper edge of? the flange i of the respective blade member 31. whereupon the blades will be maintained in their horizontal signal displaying position. as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Words to attract attention. such for example as Look for are printed. painted. or otherwise depicted upon the outer face of each plate 3, as indicated by the numeral 37, and similar words are printed upon the faces of the blades of each pair. For example, the words Rail and Out will be printed as indicated respectively by the numerals 38 and 39, upon one face of each blade of one of the pairs of blades. Thus, the word Rail will appear on one face of one blade of the pair and the were Out will appear on the other face of the same 7 blade, so that when the blades of this particular pair are in horizontal position and the signaling device is held upright, the engineer or conductor of the approaching train may readily read the warning dis played and be instantly apprised of the reason for bringing hisftrain to astandstill. Each pair of blades will, of course, be adapted to display different signals or warnings and, of course, as many pairs of blades may be provided as are considered necessary to cover the various conditions which might prevail and constitute reasons for stopping an oncoming train.

By reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4 thereof, it will be observed that one blade of each pair is formed with a threaded socket 40 located in one longitudinal edge'of the blade near the outer end thereof. In connection with the blades which are provided with the s0ckets, there is employed a finger button ll having a threaded shank indicated by the numeral 4-2 adapted to be removably threaded into the socket 40 of any of the said blades.

In the use of the signaling device embodying the invention and assuming that one of the rails is out of place on a stretch of track, the track foreman will thread the shank of the finger piece 41 into the opening 40 in one of the pair of blades which bear the signal words Rail out and will then hand the device to one of the section hands who will proceed along the track to a point remote from the displaced rail, withdraw the signal flag 20 from the tubular stock 13 of the signaling device for the purpose of flagging the oncoming train. After the engineer has answered the flag and the engine is near enough for the engineer or conductor to read the signal, the section hand or man will hold the signaling device upright, having previously pulled upon the finger piece all so as to swing the two blades of the said pair downwardly and outwardly to horizontal position. Therefore, the engineer or conductor will be immediately apprised of the reason why the train was stopped or the warning displayed. It will be evident that inasmuch as only one of the finger pieces 41 is employed and this is associated with one of the blades of the pair which is to display the desired warning signal, by the track foreman, nothing is left to the judgment of the section hand, as he can, therefore, display only the proper signal or warning.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A signaling device comprising a stock, a frame carried thereby, a pair of signal blades mounted for swinging adjustment in the frame to assume a folded position and a position extending outwardly from the frame in opposite directions, operative con-- neetion between the blades for effecting corresponding simultaneous movement of the blades, and yieldable means in cooperative relation with the blades to hold them in either folded or extended position and to positively move them to either extreme position after being initially moved past the center in either direction.

n. A. signaling device comprising a suprraine, plurality of pairs of signal mounted therein, the blades of each se ring coinnleniental parts of a warning, the pairs of olades being selectively movable to position within the bounds of U e f ame and to position extending outwardly n the frame, and yieldable means in cooper ve relation with the blades to lzol 1 in either folded or extended position and to positively move them to either xtren'ie position after being initially moved ast the center in either direction.

A signaling device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of pairs of signal blades mounted therein, the blades of each pair bearing complemental parts of a warnand operative connection between the of each pair for efiecting correspondsimultaneous movement of the blades. the pairs of blades being selectively movable to position within the bounds of the frame and to extended position, and yieldable means in cooperative relation with the blades to hold them in either folded or extended position and to positively move themto either extreme position after being initially moved past the center in either direction.

i. A signaling device comprising a stock, frame carried thereby, a pair of signal ades mounted for swinging adjustment in e frame to assume a folded position and a osition extending outwardly from the rame in opposite directions, the blades at heir relatively adjacent ends having intermeshing gear teeth for effecting corresponding simultaneous movement of the blades, and a linger piece upon one of the said blades whereby it may be manually swung to effect adjustment of both blades.

A signaling device comprising a frame, a pair of signal blades pivotally mounted in the frame and having intermeshing gear teeth the blades being adjustable to assume a position lying within the bounds of the the frame andopcrative connection between the oiades tor eii'eeting;.corresponding si-- multaneous movement.- ot' the blades.

7. A sip ialing device comprising ailrame, a pair oi "-al blades mounted for SWIDg-w ing adjus nentin the :trame to assume a folded position and a positionextending.

Oilliittll'lllv from the frame in opposite directions. the blades each having relatively ad- 1acent straight edge portlons, operative con nection between the blades for efi'ecting corresponding sinmltaneous movement .of the blades. and a yieldabl supported restraining member coacting with the straight edge portions of the blades for maintaining the blades in positions of adjustment 8. A. signaling device comprising-a frame,

a pair of signal blades pivotally mounted:

for swinging;movement in the t'rame't-o assume a folded position Within the bonndsof the. trainelanda position extendingout- \vardlv trom the frame in opposite directions, ope 'ati-ve i connection between the blades for ell'ect-ing corresponding. simultaneous movementot' the blades, the blades nal blades pivotally.mounted for at their pivoted ends being formed each with :grooves extending along relati vel v adjacent setges of the'blades-a restraining member com arising a strip having a flange seating in the grooves and bearing against the inner Walls ot the. grooves and constituting means "for-inaintaining the blades in positions of adjustment. and means vieldably maii'itaining the restraining member in eng ment with the blades.

. A signaling device comprising a stock, -a rame including side frame members supported at opposite sides of the stock. a pluralit v of pairs of signal blades mounted \vithineach of the side frame members for swinging adjustment to assume a i'oldod position l tving within the. bounds thereof or a position extending outu'erdl from the frame in opposite directions. and operative connection between the blades for ell'ecting corresponding simultaneous movement of the blades.

it). A. signaling device comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of pairs ol signal blades mounted therein, the blades of each .pair bearing associated warning words. the pairs of blades being selectivel movable to position Within the bounds of the frame and to extended position, one blade of each pair having athreaded socket therein, and a tinger; pieeehaving authreaded shank selectively 'engageable' in the sockets'ot the said blades, the blades of each pair being connected tor corresponding simultaneous movement.

In testimony whereof l atiix my signature.

Josnrn B. .WELDAY. e551 

